Our Staff

Dan Misleh

Executive Director

I am the founding executive director of Catholic Climate Covenant. What a privilege it is to work everyday with our partners and supporters to share the good news of Catholic teaching on care for creation. Before this job, I spent 11 years in the department of Justice, Peace and Human Development at the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, and three years in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati's social action office. After graduating from Xavier University in Cincinnati, I joined the Jesuit Volunteer Corps, where I met my wife Susie (also a volunteer). I received an M.A in theology from the Franciscans in Berkeley, CA in 1989. Susie and I have three children: Benjamin, Anna, and Zachary.

Jose Aguto

Associate Director

I feel blessed to join the Catholic community in raising up the call expressed by Pope Francis, Pope Benedict, and Saint John Paul II, to care for creation and to care for poor. I worked previously for the Friends Committee on National Legislation, where I initiated the Call to Conscience on Climate Disruption, an interfaith, grassroots call to Congress for bipartisan recognition of the reality, science and impacts of climate change. The Call persuaded Rep. Chris Gibson (R-NY) to introduce a resolution to that effect, which was reintroduced by Rep. Stefanik (R-NY). I have worked for the National Congress of American Indians in the service of tribal governments seeking to address climate change. I am a graduate of Brown University and Villanova Law School.

Paz Artaza-Regan

Program Manager

I have a deep passion for justice and for the protection of God's creation, and have been blessed with the opportunity to work for 17 years on environmental and human rights issues within the faith community. Originally from Chile, I see myself as a "citizen of the world" with a strong commitment to global, sustainable development. I have an M.A. in International Development from American University, and completed the course work for an M.A. in Community and Regional Planning from the University of British Columbia. Still adjusting to the empty-nest, I fill any "spare" time with tutoring, hiking, knitting, theological and political conversation, long walks with my husband and "Pepper the Pup," and cooking for friends and family.

Carolyn Thele

Director of Operations

My love of God’s creation comes from my roots in West Virginia, where I grew up encountering God in nature. I feel fortunate for the opportunity to channel this love into my work at Catholic Climate Covenant. As the Director of Operations for the Covenant, I make sure the trains run on time and support the Executive Director and the staff in whatever ways they need. Before working at Catholic Climate Covenant, I taught elementary school and worked at André House of Hospitality, a Catholic ministry for the homeless in Phoenix, Arizona. I earned my B.A. in English from the University of Notre Dame while working as a writing tutor at the University Writing Center.

Dan DiLeo, MTS

Project Manager

I have managed the Covenant’s social media, newsletter and college outreach since 2009. In addition, I am the principal author of our college toolkit, and helped coordinate the publication of "Environmental Justice and Climate Change: Assessing Pope Benedict XVI's Ecological Vision for the Catholic Church in the United States." My concern for climate change comes from my commitment to Catholic Social Teaching, and I am currently earning my Ph.D. in theological ethics at Boston College. I also write for Millennial Journal and Political Theology Today.

Robert Christian

Social Media Manager

I am the editor of Millennial, an online periodical by millennial Catholics; a PhD candidate in American Politics at Catholic University; a graduate fellow at the Institute for Policy Research & Catholic Studies; and a father of three. I have a BA from the University of the Pacific in American Politics, an MA in International Security from the University of Leicester (UK), and an MA in American Politics from Catholic University. Care for creation is integral to my commitment to human rights and social justice, which inspires my social media work at the Catholic Climate Covenant. I enjoy spending time with my wife and kids, playing sports, reading, and watching sports, especially the Golden State Warriors.